The Mountain Artisans Art & Craft Shows started in
Macon County in 1987. Only 8 artisans exhibited at
the first Christmas show in Franklin, NC.

We never imagined that,
down the road, we were headed to the wonderful Ramsey
Center on the Western Carolina University campus in
Cullowhee, North Carolina!

It is a dream come
true. As the years have flown by, more and more artisans
wanted a good place to sell their hand work and
joined us. So many of our small businesses have been sent overseas, but there are no
imports here. The southern craftsman is alive and
well in this area. Many of the heritage crafts
are handed down from the older generation.

Mountain Artisans
Art and Crafts Shows provide a
marketplace for customers and artisans to meet. It is an amazing
collection under one roof. You would have to visit dozens
of shows to
find what I have gathered at one place.

Cullowhee, North Carolina is home
to the Western Carolina University. On the campus is the Ramsey
Center arena that boasts 18,000 square feet of climate controlled
comfort for everyone. It is home to the Catamount's
basketball games but two times each year, they move over for
our craft shows. A great set up crew makes it all look easy for
me.

Quaint Cullowhee Valley nestles off Highway 107
that runs up to Cashiers, North Carolina from Sylva. It is a
stop off the Southern
Highroads Trail highway. All around are big, soft mountains. A foot bridge crosses the Cullowhee Creek to get
to the show from the parking lot. It is peaceful to your soul
just to be here. Click on the map to see how to get
to Cullowhee NC from Asheville, Cherokee, and Atlanta.

Notes from the Show Promoter -

For our out of town customers: the fire and
smoke crisis is past The air is clear again thanks to our
Firefighters .So, come on over !

The show consists of artists inside and
outside the building:

Outside Artists: The sidewalk and surrounding
area leading up to the big Catamount door entrance has a sample
of the quality artisans inside. Look for the following
outside exhibitors:

Rena Wilkins is demonstrating crocheting
old fashioned heirloom rugs from rags. NOTE: Rena has pneumonia
.She is in the hospital. She plans to be at the
'Summertime ' show in June . Get well soon, Rena ! from your
crafter friends!

Doreyl Ammons Cain,Doreyl's Art,
(Jackson County's own) will be demonstrating pastel paintings.
She will have her Christmas birds "Laughing Locust "collection: nature art on slices of locust
wood cut from her forest preserve.

Look for Woodcraftsman, Jerry
Stanley NC Mountains Outdoor Furniture, with Adirondack chairs, swings, birdhouses (for
real birds) and more. All constructed with Western Red
Cedar and Cypress wood, and stainless steel nails .will be on the corner again with a wide selection for your
house.

Stone dreamer, Jim
Gunter will by the entrance door again with carvings
on native rocks.

Regina and Larry Hensley make
inspirational signs on rustic boards . You are gonna love them !

Dave and Heather Anders Colonial
Wagon and Wheel are coming a long way to bring Blacksmithing
yard art. Look for Shepard hooks of all kinds of and
holiday animals.

Janette
Franich Designs by Janette creates lovely, delicate jewelry
you are going to love. She will only be here for Friday 's show .

Come inside. The entrance tunnel has
some exciting exhibitors:

The holiday smell of balsam cedar branches
and fresh apples means that Larry Haskett and Evelyn Sanborn
Awe Naturals will be shaping a wide assortment of fresh wreaths for your
house again. The big tree in the lobby will be decked out by
them also.

I have just made my yearly trek to Barber Orchard
to pick out the most scrumptious mountain apples for the basket on
the ticket table. They will stay in the cooler until I
fetch
them the week of the show. This year's pick is Pink Lady and Red
Delicious .Yum, yum, can't wait! Pick up hard candy, too to
celebrate our "Mountain Christmas Tradition" .

First artisaninside the door is favored
potter Sue Malsnee. She has many area collectors of her work
who look for her unique creations at this show. They will be glad to find
her nature designs and original glazes.

Amy Ammons GarzaSpirit of
Appalachia will be selling books for their not- for -profit
organization .

Dogwood Crafters will be selling
samples from their unique shop.
They feature quality handcrafts from the mountain area. Visit their shop in Dillsboro, NC

Dearly cherished, Harold Sims;Catman2. His
kind heart started a no kill rescue and adoption home that
has aided hundreds of felines. Go by and donate generously. He
does much good.

Tom Livingston'sPiece by Piece Intarsia
takes many kinds of wood and shapes them into amazing
pictures. He will have some neat choices for special giving or dressing up
your home.

Carolyn Cordell Metal Paintings will be back with her holiday metal art collection,
ornaments and small gift
selections.

Arena:
It is 18,000 sq feet of warm, comfortable shopping area.

Good live music brings cheer!
There will be live, guitar
music floating from the fingers of Macon County's
Ronnie Evans. He plays the old Christmas songs that we
grew up with. He will be selling his
CD's
to enjoy all year.

Just In :Aaron Hequembourg's
Engraved Paintingsare coming to this show ! He is an
award winning artist who will bring his
historical portrayal
of native people. Check out his
www.bigwhitedog.net
web site to see examples of his art.! Welcome back
Aaron .

The pottery section
includes:

Note : To the collectors of Kim von HedemannClay Critters who combines
her love of cartoons and animals for this adorable art. She
captures a whole menagerie with clay
on mugs and trinket boxes. She will not be at this year's
show because she is moving but will be back for the
2017 "Summertime " show.

Balsam Mountain's Ann Suggs Stone house Pottery
will be here with her Christmas collection !

Cory Plott Plot ware Pottery will be
inside this year with his holiday specials.

Mike and Cindy Hart Hart works
Stoneware are coming with their pinecone design
stoneware and lamps .

Cindy may have some sheep buttons and
accessories and other good stuff.

Diana Gore
Forster Dragon fly Pottery .When I saw her nature themed
clay art, I just knew she had to bring her lovely work to Cullowhee. Each vases is a one of a kind
creation. Welcome Diana.

Garden lovers alert ! Kyle Carpenter Green Thumb Pottery
has some new additions for
this year's show. One of his table top fountains would be perfect
for all season gift!

Robby Ralley - Milton Mugs
is
coming back with an assortment of fine pottery and his famous face
jugs.

Specialty foods and sweets:

Kathy Nash Serendipity
, will be back for this show with her delicious
nut brittle!.

Terri Cook's
Delightful Dips
was a hit last show and will be back with her homemade dips, mixes and
southern meat rubs.

Jessica DeMarco Copper Pot Traditions
has jams, jellies and pickles; perfect for all that company a
'coming.

Heritage Soap:

Bill Reed Freedom Farms
is coming back with his
popular goat
milk soap and his personal grooming accessories.

Laura Craig Shade Tree
Farm soap maker will have some delicious new flavors.

Other special crafts :

Bill RadfordLittle Feather brings Cherokee knife craft and stone
carving to this year's show. How about your name carved in the
Cherokee language?

Corn shuck flowers date back to the early
settlers. Artisan Betty Cabe,
is preserving this
heritage craft. She will demonstrating and selling her colorful
bouquets and collector dolls. Christmas always brings
angels, angels and more angels.

Elly Davey Bird in Hand
is
almost famous for herlittle folk
figure with hickory nut heads and don't forget her whimsies. She has many
collectors who look for new creations
each show.

Alva Houston
was our 'Featured
Artist" last summer show. Her
little mountain folk dolls will be joined with snowmen gourd art
and fresh canned jams and jellies from her summer garden.

Roberta Brown-Roberts Dried FlowerArt is coming back with more lovely
selections for the garden lovers on your list! They are going to love her
framed bouquets of pressed flowers, grown in her own garden.

Look for Tommy Hill with his hand tooled
leatherwork. Replace that old wallet with a new one.

Molly McCurdyDulcimers by Molly
will be returning. If you ever wanted to play , now is a
good time to explore.

The little log homes and churches that David
Pruitt (This year's Featured Artist!) Another Place In Time
make are
coming back with more cabins and styles.
Wife, Silvia Pruitt will
have her hanging kitchen towels, coasters and star ornaments.

Lee Willis has fun with soda cans. She turns
them into little airplanes, mobiles and flashy earrings.

Lance K Long Old-World Carvings is a
master carver of Christmas nativity . He will be here with his
birds and Santas '

Dawn Rhodes Country Rhodes Mosiac Art shapes
original mosaic designs on lighted bottles. Welcome, Dawn with this special
art.

Ralph Monteith/Lisa Breese Creek-side
Creations will have the
unique banks with post office box fronts . One of a kind ,for sure.

Joyce White will be bringing Christmas decorations
for your house. She will have personalized ornaments,wall and table
pieces. Welcome Joyce.

Jim Boxerman Jim's Leather Crafts is
returning with his handcrafted collection of purses, belts and accessories.

Betty Spivey makes Old World Santa's. She will have a wonderful collection for
you or someone special.

Duncan and
Jean Sickler Waterfall Mountain Art will be returning
with various sizes of wood stars, cork art and more.

Kevin
Quinn J&C Craftsis new this show with embroidered items for your
kitchen and house.

Jay Britt
Britt's leatherworks will have belt, belts, belts for all ages. Also, cell
phone holders and other accessories.

Frank & Darlene MarkerMarker Mountain are coming back with candles, soaps, and herb
products you can only find from their organic farm.

Gen Collins
Mystic Mineral Clay has many returning customers for her
healing clay.

We have attracted some wonderful painters
for this year :

Regenia
FordMountain Memories is a Tennessee artist who paints
originals on barn wood. She may be painting on her miniature
ornaments at the show . Look for her Mr. Snowman window piece! Only
one like it !

Alan R. Young
is an award winning Georgia wildlife artist who will bring, originals,
prints and giclees.

Don Meinders is also a wildlife artist who only paints
originals .Get ready for one of a kind beauty.

Look online for my friend Michael M Roger's ,favorite
watercolorist and avid hiker will be Sharing the Beauty of his beloved mountains in his latest
DVD of waterfalls
and wild flowers. Visit his new online store at
www.michaelmrogersfineart.com
You can purchase original art work, prints and photography on
canvas.

Jeanne Mack Southern Paintings
always has new collectors with her southern paintings and charming
feline art.

Jason RizzoJason Rizzo Fine Art
is fine art in photography. He
captures all things lovely in this area with a new twist.

Don Harris, (WCU alumni ) Author of a
new book and master carver. His specialty is nativity
scenes, angels and Santas. Grandma's Quilt', a
Christmas story is his just published book.

The fabric and Fiber art category is looking good
:

Ashley Houston
hand painted batik clothing is coming back with all season designs
for you.

Donna McCarthy, Alpaca Tiena fiber artist and alpaca farmer, will be back with
her hand dyed yarn and wearable art

Sue Dial ,fiber artist,
is returning with her holiday art and creations. She recycles fabric
and has a polymer clay collection.

Dora Reynolds Designer Tableware
is a hit each show
with her bright colorful fabric plates and bowls. She
will have her summer collection of birds and
Snowmen.

Beverly Borchardt is a quilter
who makes wall hangings. She has a good selection of quilted items for
your home.

Linda and Ed Barton has their own brand of
felt ornaments. Come by for
school themes and other holiday favorites for your collections.

Karen Allen Sew Unique
has hand crafted a wide selection of microwavable chip baskets,
tater bakers, and corn steamers. She makes lovely ornaments,
book pillows and large rag rugs. What are music box cats?

Joan Naylor's woven
accessories and scarves are always a hit. Look for her holiday collection for
giving or yourself!!

Ginger Rutland, Gingerbread
Land will be back with hand sewed Christmas decor, gingerbread
dolls and Santa's. She will feature a Scottish theme this year.

Susan Kennedy's quilted purses are
collector's pieces. Drop by to see what's new for Christmas
giving. Don't
forget Mark's photography taken on their travels.

William T. & Nancy Smith: shawls and
scarves, yarn, pins and accessories.
Look for Nancy 's sewing work bags to neaten up your
projects and swifts for weavers.

Master weaver Alice Craig Alice Craig
Originals weaves and spins luxurious fiber from silk, wool,
mohair and linen for her customers who want to look and feel
their best. How about a gift just for you ?

Melanie Koenig Royal Fiber
Craft will be demonstrating an early 1900 weaving machine (as
you watch) that makes socks, bags, shawls and more

Angel Hudgins Hudgins Designs
is back
this year with unique, cool designs for the 20 something
crowd.

Coming back is Jacolyn Campbell, Campbell Designs master wire wrapper. She will have chain maille styles
and gem trees
also.

Carrie Lynn RossQuartz One features fine jewelry using natural gemstones.

Note for Janet Anderson customers Wild Fired Glass is a favorite
artist in glass, She is not coming back for
"Hard Candy Christmas" because of a back problem. Look for
her in 2017 with her original glass art; fused and slumped
ornaments and other creations. Her new line of jewelry is
diachronic glass accented with Swarovski crystals.

The
2016 "Hard Candy Christmas" is
full for this year. It is the area's biggest event featuring American handcrafted artisans in our area. "It came from the

"Hard
Candy Christmas" show. These American
craftsmen and artist are still making beautiful things with our hands,
our eyes and
our hearts,